The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-12
A BIRD AMONG BIRDS
THE STORY OF A PARROT.

As all birds OF the parrot kind are by
common consent called "Polly," 1 will not
deyiate from that rule, although in this
case it might be called misnomer, for
my "Polly" was not only not polly OF
the common kind, but cockatoo OF the
larger species, as white as snow, "orange-
crested" and withal male, and for that
reason not entitled to the feminine ap-
pellation, Polly. Yet prefer to call my
departed friend and companion OF twenty
two years, "Polly," more as expressive OF
endearment than of propriety. Well,
Polly had history, and it is that l pro-
pose to interest your readers with.
Somewhere back in the dark past, say
about fifty years ago, there lived in Phila-
delphia family named Miller, who kept
a hotel on Chestnut street (Sam Miller's).
By some means not known to me, this
Polly got into the possession OF that
family. How old he may have been when
he arrived from Australia has never been
established, but it is likely he was full
grown, and probably two or three years
old. Some time in the beginning of the
forties, Polly came into the hands OF
Wentz family at Lancaster, Pa, who had
him for perhaps ten or fifteen years, when
he was sold to Mr.. Council, in Leacock
Township, Lancaster county. Here he
had the misfortune to break leg, which
disabled him SO that he could not feed
himself properly, and came very near be-
ing sacrificed to relieve him of his misery,
when good Samaritan, in the person of
Mr.. Crick, butcher, who supplied the
Cornell family with meat, seeing the I'M
fortunate condition of the bird, suggested
that perhaps he might be healed. Mr..
Cornell had very little hopes of such
happy result, but told Mr.. Crick to take
him and see what he could do with him.
Thus Mr.. Orick became Polly's new
owner, successfully splinted and band
aged the broken limb, and in short time
healed the fracture. From this time forth
the history of Polly's precocity begins.
It was never known before what "was
in" the bird. The sequel will show that
there was much sin him" that was only
waiting an opportunity to be developed,
more perhaps than some people would
have given bird credit for.
Polly was given wide range on the
little farm, where he mingled with the
geese, ducks, chickens and pigs, and by
degrees became mimic unparalleled by
anything recorded in history. When he
cackled, any one not aware of his pre-
sence naturally concluded that hen was
just glorying over her "last lay" When
lie crowed all the barn-yard strutters
Joined in chorus to outcrow him. When
he initiated the small "chick" with shrill
and quick "peep" as il in pain, clucking
mothers would run in the direction
whence the sound came, to the rescue Of
the supposed little victim, only to be con-
fronted by the mischievous hook-billed
counterfeit. His braying Of mule was
perfect in meditation, but somewhat
lacking in volume, and for that reason
was one of his very best efforts. No wo-
man ever laughed more heartily than
Polly could laugh; in fact, so natural
was this imitation that on more than one
occasion persons would stop to listen to
the fun among the women folks OF the
house, to be told on inquiring as to what
was going on, that it was "only Polly
having laugh to himself" The most
natural of all his limitations, however
was the crying of baby. 1t was enough
to touch the heart of any tender parent
passing the house when Polly had this
theme in hand. Such sobbing, such
holding of breath and then bursting out
afresh in a perfect scream as of pain,
made everybody within hearing and not
knowing the source feel like suggesting
Winslow soothing syrup or paregoric,
and that without delay. One other ex-
traordinary effort of Polly was the squeal-
ing of a dying pig. Mr.. Orick killed
many hogs for the market, and this gave
the bird an excellent opportunity to ac-
quire this ear piercing refrain. His init
alton of the whining of puppy and the
barking of dog we're perfect in the full
sense of the term. In short there was
nothing that he undertook to initiate
which was not done to perfection, except
the braying of the mule.
Polly was happy in his home, but he
finally became too sociable for Mr.. Crick's
use, and this was the cause of his sale
and my becoming his owner, master,
friend-his last owner. His obtrusive
sociability consisted in eating from the
baby's hand. One day the baby was eat
ing candy. Polly wanted some of that
candy, so he just walked up to where
baby was sitting at the door and took the
candy and a part of the thumb from
baby's hand. When baby cried he broke